18 Aug 1044 (Mission 230) in B-17G 43-38258 Forget Me Not Olly (358BS) VK-H to Liege, Belgium. Hit by flak after "bombs away." The wings, tail, fuselage and other B-17 sections were hit. The #4
engine was severely damaged. The prop couldn't be feathered because the oil line had been cut.
Two of the oxygen systems were severed. The Ball Turret was out and had to be cranked up by
hand. Forget Me Not Olly could not keep up with the formation and was lagging far behind and
other Groups were passing by overhead. The enemy coast was reached all alone and the English
Channel was crossed unaccompanied and as a precaution radio fixes were sent out. Bombs were
jettisoned in the channel. An emergency landing was made at the 356th FG P-47 airfield at
Martlesham-Heath, Suffolk, England. The B-17 was regained at Molesworth on 14 Sept 1944.
Lt Philip H. McDavid (P) suffered a non-critical leg flesh wound. Lt Donald E. Pickett (B) received
a serious wound in the back of his thigh. Both were hospitalized after landing. The lack of large
size bandages in the first aid kits hampered treatment of the two wounded crewmen.
Lt McDavid resumed combat missions on 03 Sep 1944. Lt Pickett was removed from combat
status and flew no more combat missions. (Comments by Lt McDavid)